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Free Resort Reviews

Hyatt Vacation Club

Article submitted by:
Ken Lepic
bywind@earthlink.net
January 14, 2008

Resort Locations - Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Hyatt International, both owned by the Pritzker family of Chicago, currently operate an estimated 160 hotels and 34 resorts throughout the world. Hyatt Vacation Club entered the vacation ownership industry in 1994 with Hyatt Sunset Harbor in Key West, Florida. Hyatt’s focus is high quality at incomparable settings by creating "boutique" resorts with luxurious accommodations, fine amenities, and intimate nature. Since 1994, Hyatt has developed 13 properties: (see http://www.hyatt.com/hvc/index.jhtml for more info)

Hyatt is also in the permitting and/or construction phase for other properties:

Other properties identified include Grand Cayman. Hyatt has also privately indicated plans are underway to develop a total of 26 properties worldwide by 2011. Unconfirmed discussions suggest those locations will include Maui-Ka’anapali; Paris, London, Stowe, VT; and Cabo San Lucas. Two or three locations in California are also under consideration. The preference will be to locate those new vacation properties in coordination with new (or existing) Hyatt Regency resorts.

Ownership and Benefits For the initial resorts, purchase was a deeded ownership of a specific villa, at a specific resort, for a specific week. Other resorts including Tahoe, Carmel, Key West (Windward Pointe only) and Puerto Rico are RTU, expiring in 2075. The purchase is fee simple, fixed-week ownership plus the benefits of Hyatt Vacation Club, and Hyatt Gold Passport membership. These include the flexibility of points-based vacation exchange opportunities, and access to the worldwide Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. The week of ownership may be converted into Hyatt Vacation Club (VC) points that may be traded any year. The number of points is based upon the (home) resort location, the villa size and the season of the week owned. The point value of the owner’s villa is shown in the Point Values and Season Week Charts shown below. Split weeks including weekends and mid-week are also available.

Point Values

* Seasons are specific to each resort (see Season Week Chart)

The Purchase Purchase prices are a function of home resort location, villa size, and season week. Annual maintenance fees include insurance, taxes and membership with Interval International (II). There is no additional cost for II and the membership renews annually. All elements flow down to a resale purchase from a HVC owner.

Options for Usage Owners have an exclusive right to use their villa for the entire fixed week or any portion thereof. Should an owner decide to enjoy a smaller sized villa, stay a period less than one week, or not stay at the home resort, the remaining unused portion will automatically convert to VC points. The VC points may be applied to the home resort, other Hyatt Vacation Club resorts, participating Hyatt Hotels & Resorts (every other year), or the II External Exchange Program. There is no charge to convert to VC points and the points may also be borrowed from the next year of usage.

An 18-month club reservation window with 3 unique periods governs options for villa reservation and use of VC points. Points expire 6-months following the owned week. All transactions of club resort time (including II) are conducted through the Hyatt VC representative at 1-800-GO-HYATT.

Season Week Chart (For Selected Resorts)

(See http://www.bywindkal.com/HVC.htm for a complete list of resorts)

External Exchange Program All Hyatt Vacation Club properties are II 5-star resorts and II provides Hyatt owners with an exclusive priority arrangement for resort exchange. All or a portion of VC points may be used to travel with II. The amount of points used is a function of the II Season and the size of the villa to be used. The II membership is restricted to depositing only Hyatt properties. Hyatt properties cannot be deposited into other non-Hyatt/II memberships.

Exchange with Interval International

General Observations With regard to VC points, Hyatt does not draw a distinction between resorts. Therefore, a person could minimize costs by purchasing an affordable villa and using VC points to stay at Hyatt resorts that may be selling at a higher price. In addition, by staying at a smaller villa during a lower demand season week, an owner can enjoy multiple stays during the course of the year, either at Hyatt VC resorts and/or II exchange. For example, if you owned a 2BR villa, you could choose not to use it, but rather enjoy a 1BR and a Studio at other Hyatt VC resorts; OR a 1BR and Studio at an II resort; OR a combination of 1BR and Studio at Hyatt and II.

Consistent with the Hyatt brand and overall corporate quality, the Hyatt staffs at the resorts and VC have been extremely friendly and helpful in making stays a very pleasurable experience. They make every effort to respond to any question or exchange request and offer ways to create the greatest value to the owner in the membership program.

The units have been very well maintained, are clean, comfortable, well stocked, and graciously present the Hyatt brand quality in every respect. Among other things, the villas have multiple TVs, a VCR/DVD, CD player and Jacuzzi spas. Plasma or LCD HDTVs can be found in the newer properties. Some resorts offer lockout units and town houses.

At Windward Pointe, the property is without doubt, the most spacious and highest quality of any resort in Key West. The two-bedroom condominium features two baths, whirlpool tub, a spacious living room and full kitchen. The British West Indies inspired interior theme features luxurious cherry wood furnishings, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and much more. Three TV sets and a VCR provide for your home-away-from-home entertainment.

More Information Please feel free to visit my website for specific information on the Hyatt Vacation Club and selected resorts - http://www.bywindkal.com/HVC.htm

Disclaimer The information contained herein is correct to the best of my knowledge. It should be used for general information purposes only, and must not be relied upon to make any financial decision. I am not a Hyatt employee and have not received compensation from Hyatt. The purpose is to provide information about the Hyatt Vacation Club to interested parties.

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